Charles City, IA vs Marengo, IA

Charles City, IA and Marengo, IA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.4% difference in their overall index. Charles City scores 61 while Marengo scores 63 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Charles City is $628/month compared to $722/month in Marengo — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Charles City has cheaper rent, Marengo actually has lower median home values ($114,100 vs $118,900).

Median household income in Charles City is $56,734 compared to $58,125 in Marengo (-2.4%). The higher salaries in Marengo partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Charles City spend roughly 13.3% of their income on rent, less than the 14.9% in Marengo.